£4,449 An impressive race bike featuring a Shimano 105 Di2 groupset
Weight 8.35kg (Large) Frame HMX carbon Fork HMX carbon Gears Shimano 105 Di2 12-speed (50/34t, 11-34t) Brakes Shimano 105 Di2 Wheels Syncros RP2.0 alloy Finishing kit Syncros RR1.5 alloy stem, Syncros Creston 2.0 alloy handlebar, Syncros Duncan 1.0 Aero carbon seatpost, Syncros Belcarra Regular 2.0 saddle, Schwalbe One 700x28c tyres
THE CURRENT-GENERATION SCOTT
Addict RC was launched in 2019, and is the all-round road race bike Scott-sponsored teams, such as Team DSM, often use when the road tips uphill. The 40 is the brand’s entry-level model, featuring a Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 drivetrain but the same frameset as our 2022 Bike of the Year contender, the Addict RC 10.
Yes, the frame’s beginning to look a little long in the tooth, with limited tyre clearance the biggest gripe when you compare it against more recently-refreshed competitors, but it can still cut it against the latest all-round race bikes. The frameset is made using Scott’s mid-tier ‘HMX’ level carbon (which is similar in terms of performance to the top tier, but a little weightier). The frame is claimed to weigh around 850g (in an unspecified size), and the fork another 340g, which isn’t shabby, even in 2023.
The frame and fork have a contemporary and tidy-looking appearance, with fully integrated hoses inside truncated aerofoil tubes that are designed for efficient aerodynamic performance while being lightweight, stable in crosswinds and having a good level of compliance.
Limited tyre clearance
On paper, the Scott Addict’s Achilles’ heel is tyre clearance. With the likes of the latest Canyon Ultimate and Specialized Tarmac SL8 featuring space for 700x32c tyres, the Addict RC makes do with clearance for 28c rubber. The Trek Emonda shares this ‘shortcoming’. However, with 28c tyres striking a compelling blend of speed and ride quality on race bikes, some might argue that clearance for any more is unnecessary (unless dialling up grip or compliance is more important to you, of course). That said, if the trend for ever wider road rims and tyres continues, then this level of clearance may feel limiting in a few years to come.
The Addict RC (as opposed to the more endurance-oriented Addict) has a geometry befitting a race bike with a suitably steep 73° head-tube angle and 73.3° seat-tube angle (on my Large frameset). The reach matches an equivalent-sized 56cm Specialized Tarmac SL8 at 395mm, and has a stack that’s just 3.5mm taller (368.5mm). Handlebar and stem
